Traffic signal



E. SIBLEYv TRAFFIQSIGNAL Filed April 26, 1933 Illllllllll iittented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a signal for'controllingy movements of vehicular traiiic. More particularly, it relates to a signal adapted to be placed at a tramo intersection to control, in an s orderly manner, all movements of trafiic which are permitted` by local laws.

permit a vehicle approaching an intersection controlled by a trafhc light or a traffic policeman to turn right while the traiilc on the intersecting highway is mo g, although, of course, such a vehicle may notroceed straight through the moving line of tr c or make a left turn. Since tramo rules are not uniformf however, and because in some jurisdictions a right turn on a ,red or stop signal is not permitted, it has been found desirable, in places where such right turn is permitted, to apprize the motorists of that fact, and to this`end, separate signal lights, in the form of green right turn arrows, have been mounted adjacent the conventional red, amber,

andm'een traiiic lights. Such'an addition of an extra traffic light is expensive, however, andv is accompanied by complications in wiring and operation.

It is a primary object of the. invention to produce an improved form of traffic signal having a face provided with signal areas shaped and illuminated to indicate the various movements of-\traii.ic permitted by the laws of a particular Iiurisdiction. It is a further object of the in- `vention to greatly simplify the illumination of the various signal areas, and this is accom, plished by constructing and arranging certain of the signal vareas vso that they will be brightly illuminated by reected light to show predetermined signal .colors constantly.

In one form of the invention, one signal is illuminated by transmitted light to show successively red and green colors to stop and to permit movement of trafilc respectively, and this area preferably is shaped to indicate the direction of movement so permitted. In combination with the transmissively illuminated signal area, an additional signal area is used, and the latter is illuminated by reflected light to show a constantfgreen signal, to indicate that a right turn may be' made irrespective of the color of the transmissively illuminated, changeable area. I preferably associate with the reilectivelv illuminated signal, anl additional sig- Lns1 area whichmay be constantly illuminated either red or amber by reflected light to -indi' cate that a momentary stop must be made before-traflic proceeds in accordance with the first mentioned reiiectiveiy illuminated area. Y In a'secdnd form ofthe invention, I combine with the reectively illuminated right turn arrow, an additional signal area which is illuminat'ed by transmitted lights of different colors to show.` red and green signals respectively. When this additional-areais red, it indicates that a. momentary stop must be made before tralc proceeds to turn right, in accordance with the suggestion of the green right turn arrow. However, when that area is green, the traiiic may proceed to turn right without the necessity of a momentary stop. Preferably, this transmissively illuminated area, associated and combined with the reflectively illuminated area, changes color simultaneously with the principal transmissively illuminated signal area which controls straight ahead and left turn tramo. Thus, when through traiilc is forbidden by a red signal appearing in the principal area, a right turn will be permitted by the reflectively illuminated green arrow, but only after a moi Lmentary stop has been made', in accordance with the transmissively illuminated red signal area associated therewith.

Invanother form of the invention, each signal area is illuminated 4by reflected light only. In this form, one area is made of a shape to indicate the direction of travel which the tralc may take after it has passed the signal, and this area is of a color to indicate permission to proceed in that direction. The other signal area is of a shape and color to, indicate that a momentary stop must be made prior to proceeding in accordance vwith the instruction of the first mentioned area. A signal of this type will be found to be useful'at the intersection of a side road with a main highway, and will supplant the conventional octagonal stop signs now in use.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown a specific embodiment of each of the forms of the invention discussed above, but it will be understood that many variations in constructional details may be made without exceeding the scope of the invention;

' In the dlfwingI-j `Figure 1 is an elevational, view of a tramo signal embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure. 14 in which the casing sides are perpendicular instead of inclined,

al suitable illuminating means.

LFigure s isa horizontal sectional viewer Figure 1 or 2.

in which the signalv area associated with lthe right turn signal is illuminated transmissively. Figure 5 shows another arrangement of signal Figure is an elevational viewv of a stop sign made in accordance with this invention.

InFlgures' 1 to 5, Ishow atramc signal comprising a casing lfhaving four slightly inclined signal faces 1,1, 111, 112, 113. which are each pro,-I

and shows Figure 4` is a. modinec ferm er yeine invention aol 4struction thereof forms no vided with a plurality of signalfareas. to control traiiic approaching an intersection from four directions. Obviously, more or less faces would be provided for more or less roads leading to the intersection. If desired, a visor or shield may be associated with each signal face' to protect the same from the weather, but care should bel taken not to cast a heavy shadow upon the reilectively illuminated signal area, for if this is done, that area will not be illuminated sumciently by daylight. Within the housing a single source of illumination, in the form of an electric light bulb 12, is provided. A cylin cal screen 13 is mounted for intermittent ro ion about the bulb 12. The screen is provided with diametrically opposed green sections 14 and red sections 15. Thus, beams of red light are transmitted to the faces 11, 111, and beams of green light to the faces 112,4 113 (Fig. 3). ,When the cylindrical screen is rotated through the opposite will be the case and the facesformerly receiving red light will receive a green light and. vice versa.

Referring to Figure 2,- an electricmotor 16 is indicated tically. and the saine is preferably4 connected through an appropriate mechanism 17 to the post 19, which supports the screen. The mechanism 17 functions to impart to the post 19 a quick 90 turn at predetermined intervals. Many such devices are known in the art and since .the particular conof the present invention, it will not be' descri further.

4The interior of the casing is divided into four compartments by partition members 20, 21, so that light from one section of the screen can be projected only to one signal face at a certain time.

The construction and arrangement of the signal areas on the several faces of the housing is the most important part of the present invention. Referring to Figure 1, a plurality of transparent lenses 22 are `assembled and supported in appropriate openings in the face 11 in the form of a straight ahead arrow 23 and a left turn arrow 24. Beneath this signal .-area, additional lenses may be assembled in the form of a horizontal bar 25. These lenses arevadapted to be illuminated successively by red and green beams of light to show respectively red and green sig-- nals. Thus, when the lenses pass a ,red light, trafdc which desires to proceed straight ahead or to turn left will be instructed vto stop, whereas such trame will be instructed to proceed when a green color, and to this end either a green A reflecting surface may be placed behind clear glass, or green glass may be used.

Associated with the reiiectively illuminated 'right turn arrow is another signal area, which,

in Figure 1,is indicated as a reilectively illuminated red bar, 28. The red signal of this bar will indicate to traific-that a momentary stop is required before the trame may proceed in ac cordancewiththegreenrightturnarrow.'

The form of device disclosed in Figure 4 differs from that of Figure 1 only in that the signal area 28', associated with the reflectively illuminated right turn arrow 26, is adapted to be illuminated by transmitted light, in exactly the same manner as the straight ahead and left turn arrows 23, 24. Consequently, the bar 2B will indicate that.right turn traffic must stop momentarily before proceeding, if the signals 23, 24 are red and cross-trame is flowing. However, when signals 23, 24 are green and cross-trame is not flowing, a right turn may be made in accordance with the indication of right turn arrow 26 without the necessity of a momentary stop, because the signal area 28' associated therewith will be green.

In Figure 5, the left turn and the straight ahead arrows are indicated as separate signal areas 23', 24'. Each may be illuminated by transmitted light, in accordance with the disclosure of Figures 1 to 4, and the right turn arrow 26 again should be illuminated reectively.

The bars beneath the arrows may be illuminated in. either of the ways described above.

In Figure 6, a somewhat-different form of the invention is disclosed. This comprises av signal or sign having a face 30, which is adapted to be positioned to receive light from passing vehicles. Upon the face. there are positioned two signal areas 31, 32, each of which is constructed and arranged to be illuminated by reected light to show predetermined respectively different colors. As indicated, the signal area '31 will show a green light-by reection and the area 32 a red light. The area 31 is formed of a shape to indicate the direction which traffic may follow after the sign. Thus, if the sign is placed at the intersection of a side road with a main highway, the area 31 will be in the form shown in Figure 6, and will comprise aright turn arrow 33 and a left turn arrow 34. 0f course. if the side road continues across and beyond the main highway, a .straight ahead arrow would appear extending upwardly from the juncture of the shafts of the right and left turn arrows.

The signal-area 32 is shaped and colored to indicate the necessity for a momentary stop. As disclosed, it is in the form of a horizontal bar and is colored red, because such a form is in the nature of a barrier and will instruct a driver to stop.

, I claim:

1. In a trame signal, a green signal, a red signal, and means to display said signals alternately and cyclically, a permanently displayed turn indicator, a bar under the 'turn indicator, and means to display4 said bar in colors corresponding to the trame signal displayed, whereby a momentary stop is indicated with a turn on the red signal and permission to proceed without a momentary stop is indicated with a turn on the green signal.

2. In a trame signal, a green signal, a red signai, and means to display said signals alternately and cyclically, a permanently displayed green tiirn'indicator, a bar under the turn indicator, and means to display said bar in colors corresponding to the trafilc signal displayed, whereby ma momentary stop is indicated with a turn on the red signal and permission to proceed without a momentary stop is indicated with a turn on the green signal. 3. In a tramo signal, a'housing having a wall, a translucent lens in the wall, and means within said housing to transmit alternately and yencally, red and green light through said lens, a permanently displayed turn indicator, a bar under the turn ndicatonand means to display said,

bar in colors corresponding to the color of the lens, whereby a momentary stop is indicated with a turn on the red signal and permission to proceed without a preliminary. stop is indicated on the green signal. f

4. In a trafiic signal, a housing having iwalls,

a translucent lens in one of said walls, and a permanently displayed turn indicator, 'a translucent bar under the turn indicator. and means within the housing to transmit alternately and cyelically, red and green light to illuminate said lens and said bar similarly, whereby a momentary stop is indicated with a turn on the red signal and permission to proceed without a preiminary stop is indicated on the green signal.

ERWIN SIBLEY. 

